Contact: Colleen Roche/Brenda Perez (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today hosted the "Mayor's Volunteer Adult and Youth Service Awards" ceremony, honoring twenty-seven New Yorkers who have dedicated themselves to exemplary volunteer work. The Mayor was joined by Harriette Heller, Director of the Mayor's Voluntary Action Center (MVAC); Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington; New York City Voluntary Action Corporation President Melissa Lewis Bernstein; and Task Force on Awards and Recognition Co-chairs Joan Simon Crespi and Sally Pearce.
Since it was established more than 30 years ago, MVAC has provided leadership in mobilizing individuals as well as public, private and nonprofit organizations to participate in volunteerism that effects positive change in New York City.
"Your dedication and spirit of commitment are an inspiration to all of us who strive to create a stronger future for our fellow New Yorkers," said Mayor Giuliani. "This is what living in a great City is all about: reaching out to one another, bringing new hope and opportunity into the lives of our neighbors, regardless of our differences.
"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to thank and congratulate each of the honorees and I also want to thank all of the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who selflessly work to build a better City for us all," the Mayor concluded.
Mayor's Voluntary Action Center Executive Director Harriette Heller said, "The constant support of the MVAC volunteers constitutes an invaluable contribution to the City of New York. I am delighted to have this opportunity to thank and honor them for sharing their time, their skills and their hearts with those New Yorkers who need them most."
The nominations for the outstanding volunteers were made by approximately 4,000 agencies and schools throughout New York City. A diverse panel of seventeen judges participated in the selection process and five judges chose the finalists. The Mayor presented certificates to the top six awardees:
Mrs. Inez Miller joined the New York City School Volunteer Program twenty-seven years ago as a reading tutor. She has volunteered her time at PS 268 in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, helping to improve the reading levels of hundreds of students.
The Volunteers at the Office of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) consists of individuals from the community who monitor the most difficult foster care cases. In 1997, CASA's volunteers monitored approximately 770 cases involving over 1300 children Citywide.
Justin F. Karr is coordinator of the Park Avenue Synagogue Food Pantry which serves over 300 people daily. The Pantry packages food during the week and distributes it every Friday afternoon. The program also helps people find jobs, clothing and medical attention.
Wing Li Leung is a volunteer at the American Red Cross, in Greater New York. She was responsible for restructuring the roles of the youth volunteers and establishing a Youth Service Executive Board. Her work has resulted in an increase of youth volunteers in five major service delivery areas -- Disaster Services, Health and Safety Services, Homeless Services, Social Services and Support Services.
Christ the King High School students in Queens serve hot breakfast to the homeless people at St. Peter's Lutheran Church every Tuesday morning and on holidays. They return to the Church at night to prepare and serve hot food and coffee to over 150 homeless men and women.
St. Agnes High School students in Manhattan volunteer at WEME Mainstream Nutrition and Health Center, serving as student shoppers, emergency food deliverers, food pantry assistants, clerical helpers and bakers.